Losing a pet or coming across a dead bird or other animal in the yard isn't something we like to think about. Knowing how to properly dispose of a dead animal and taking care of it right away is important, however, for your health and the well-being of everyone else. Here are some basic guidelines.

Handling Dead Animals

If at all possible, don't touch a dead animal or at least wear gloves. For small animals like a dead bird on your porch, you can use a shovel to pick it up and place in a plastic bag. It's best to avoid wild animals found dead on the road—report these to your local or state health department or local police department.

Burying Small Animals

Small animals, like fish and hamsters, are easy to dispose of if you have a yard. You'll need to check your local regulations for the requirements for burial. State, county, or town code, like this Missouri statute, will tell you how deep you need to bury the dead animal (usually at least 3 or 4 feet) and other requirements.

When digging, watch out for utility power lines, and avoid burying an animal near any water source or area prone to flooding.

Non-Burial Methods

Flushing small fish: Flushing fish down the toilet is an easy way to dispose of them too, but also controversial. (Don't try this with bigger fish, which may clog your toilet.) Some think flushing a pet fish is irreverent, while others are concerned about diseased fish entering the sewer system. Right now the jury's out on this practice, so for now we recommend either burying the fish or wrapping it up in a plastic bag or leak-proof container and putting it in the trash. (Also, when one of your fish has died, check the health of your other fish in your aquarium and consider changing the tank water.)

Trash disposal: For other small or even medium size animals, you can place the body in a sealed plastic bag and then in a trash bag for garbage collection. If it's going to be a while before pickup, some sources recommend placing the body in the freezer until pickup day. Again, check with your town's sanitation guidelines; in New York City, calling 311 tells you to place the animal in a trash bag marked "dead dog" or "dead cat" for removal.

For more tricky dead wildlife removal, like getting rid of dead raccoons hidden in your walls, you'll need to seek out professional wildlife removal services or contact animal control services.

When it comes to your pets, however, such as cats or dogs, and either you can't (or don't want to) bury your pet and you want to see your pet go with a bit more care than being put in the dumpster, your vet is a great resource who could recommend a pet cremation service or possibly take care of the final arrangements.

This is a morbid subject, but if you have pets or live near a lot of wildlife you'll likely come across this situation. If you have any tips or advice on this sad task, share them with us in the comments. Photo by ChazWags.

Crash Course is a twice-weekly series of guides to life skills everyone should know but you may have been afraid to ask. Do you have an everyday problem you wish someone had taught you to solve? Let us know at tips+crashcourse@lifehacker.com.

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